Lindsay felt like she'd been hit by a truck. Her entire body ached and her head throbbed from the sleeping pill the doctor had insisted she take last night. Part of her wanted to sleep forever, and the other part of her never wanted to be vulnerable in that way again.
It was hard to know what to do.
"Morning, sleepyhead."
Lindsay looked up to find Sasha sitting on a chair beside the bed, knitting brightly colored squares. Her hair was tied back in the usual silky scarf, and she smiled warmly.
"W-where…" Lindsay began. "Jess?"
"At home." Sasha set aside her knitting needles and the ball of yarn on her lap. "Honestly, I'm surprised he stayed as long as he did. He and Jimmy both have this thing about hospitals. Something about the smell and the noises… I'm pretty sure it's all just an old-fashioned phobia."
Lindsay nodded before speaking softly. "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have asked him to stay." She was suddenly embarrassed at her clinginess. She'd gripped onto him like a scared kitten, and he'd come with her. Stayed with her. Held her hand through the whole awful 'rape kit' examination.
"Eh, it's good for him." Sasha smiled. "I talked to your doctor earlier, he said you can probably go home later today. That's good news, right?"
A slight nod.
Moments later, Lindsay was asleep again. Sasha picked up her knitting and sighed.
***
Jess was exactly where he'd expected to find him. Sitting in the short hallway 'nook' between the living room and Lily's room. Empty beer cans were sprawled around his feet, and a half empty can was in one hand.
"Glad you're enjoying my beer."
Jess said nothing, only took another swig and stared off into a random corner.
"Sasha's at the hospital?"
A terse nod.
Jimmy sighed. It was pointless to say anything else. Jess was already drunk.
He grabbed a beer. Jess might as well not do it alone.
***
Sasha checked her watch. No doubt Jimmy and Jess were both plastered out of their minds by now. Hopefully by the time Lindsay was released they would have either sobered up or moved the drunken party to a bar or something.
The doctor came in as Sasha was finishing up a 'Granny Square' for the blanket she was making.
"Good morning, Lindsay. How are you feeling today?" The doctor picked up the clipboard hanging on the end of the bed and flipped through to the page he wanted.
Lindsay glanced up from the nail she was currently biting to pieces. The doctor wasn't looking at her, so she decided not to answer.
The doctor looked up. "Miss Forrester?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to hear the results of your tests, or can I tell your friend here?" He nodded towards Sasha.
Lindsay chewed off another portion of her nail and pulled it off her tongue with her other hand. "Tell her." She pointed at Sasha and returned to her nails.
The doctor sighed and turned to Sasha. "We ran the usual test on Miss Forrester's samples, and we're pleased to say she tested negative not only on the various STD tests, but on a pregnancy test as well. Apart from the bruises and of course the emotional effects, she's in perfect health."
"That's good to hear." Sasha smiled at the doctor. "I can take her home then?"
"I'll have the release papers signed within the hour."
As the doctor left, Lindsay rolled onto her side, facing away from Sasha. "I can't go home anymore," she whispered softly.
Sasha heard her, but decided against saying anything. Lindsay was dealing with a lot right now. It was better to let her see by their actions where her home really was.
***
Two hours later, Sasha pulled her car up to the house. Lindsay hadn't said a word to her since they left the hospital. Sasha had conducted a one-sided conversation in the car, but Lindsay didn't do anything other than stare blankly out of the window.
To Sasha's dismay, she heard loud singing coming from inside as they approached the front door.
"Sixty-six bottles of beer on the wall…"
"They're cans, not bottles!"
"Sixty-seven bottles of…"
"You're counting the wrong way!"
Lindsay didn't seem to notice. Sasha mentally counted to ten and walked into the living room where Jimmy and Jess were sprawled on the floor amidst beer cans and one ketchup bottle. "We're home," Sasha snapped, stomping on the floor beside Jimmy's head.
Jimmy groaned. "Are we having an earthquake?"
"Earth cake?" Jess asked weakly from where he was lying.
Lindsay took a step back, folding her arms around her stomach. That wasn't Jess.
Jess stumbled to his feet, staggering towards where Lindsay had stationed herself, in the doorway. "Lindsay!" he slurred, grinning widely. "Wanna beer?"
A glance towards Sasha, then Lindsay carefully stepped back again.
"Lindsay?" Jess looked confused, swaying from side to side.
Her lower lip began to tremble.
Jess took a wobbly step towards her.
Lindsay screamed.
While Jimmy was busy holding his hands to his ears, Sasha carefully led Lindsay into her bedroom, where she calmed her down and tucked her into bed. Lindsay fell asleep momentarily, and Sasha walked back into the living room.
Jimmy was snoring on the couch, while Jess sipped a cup of coffee. He looked up at Sasha as she stood in front of him.
"I screwed up again, didn't I?" he whispered.
Sasha nodded.